Table construction



June 27, 1967 SCHREYER 3,327,658

TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 15, 1966 3 Shets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR 4 I KENNETH D. SCHREYER ATTORNEYS June 27, 1967 K. o. SCHREYERTABLE CONSTRUCTION INVENTOR KENNETH D. SCHREYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5ATTORNEY Mai 3.

.9 mo. i 6.

United States Patent s,s27,ess TABLE QGNTRUQT1N Kenneth D. Schreyer,Doylestown, Pa, assignor to Lyon Metal Products, llncorporated, Aurora,111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 15, 1066, Ser. No. 5%,467 15Claims. (Cl. 100-156) ABSTRAQT (111 THE DES CLQS'URE An essentially allmetal table is provided having a flat top carrying thereunder a pair ofspaced apart mounting channels and an edging extending downwardly belowthe mounting channels, an apron assembly carried by the mountingchannels, within the periphery of the edging and including attachmentbrackets at the corners and panel brackets at the side both secured bybolts engaging nuts in the mounting channels, legs being provided in thecorners of the apron assembly and secured to the attachment brackets bypairs of integral studs, and a decorative trim formed of a plastic beingdisposed between the table top and the apron assembly to fill the voidstherebetween and to deaden sound transmission therebetween.

This invention relates to tables, and particularly to improvedstructures for mounting legs on tables and for mounting aprons on tabletops.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improvedtable, and particularly an improved table formed essentially of sheetmetal that is simple in construction and economical in manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tableincluding a top having a pair of spaced apart mounting channels on theunderside thereof and an apron assembly arranged therebeneath anddisposed within the periphery thereof, a plurality of attachmentbrackets secured within the apron assembly and provided with fastenersattaching the brackets to the mounting channels, thereby to connect theapron assembly to the top, and a plurality of legs detachably secured tothe attachment brackets for supporting the table upon an underlyingsupport surface.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of theinvention to provide a decorative trim around the lower edge of thetable top against which the upper edge of the apron assembly is held,the trim preferably being formed of a synthetic organic plastic resinand serving to fill the space between the parts and to deaden soundtransmission therebetween.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedstructure for mounting a leg on the apron assembly of a table of thetype set forth, the leg being mounted directly upon an attachmentbracket carried by the apron assembly and secured thereto by a studintegral with the leg and extending through an opening of the attachmentbracket, a fastener engaging the stud to secure the leg in the operativeposition.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved structurefor mounting an apron assembly of the type set forth on the table toputilizing both the attachment brackets and panel brackets connected tothe mounting channels on the top, the attachment brackets being disposedfundamentally in the corners of the rectangular table top and the panelbrackets being disposed along the sides of the table top intermediatethe corners thereof.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangementof the parts, whereby the above-outlined and additional features thereofare attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of construction,together with further objects and advan- 3,327,058 Patented June 27,1067 ice tages, will best be understood by reference to the followingspecification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a table made in accordance withand embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of aleg forming a part of the table of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an attachment bracket forming a part ofthe table of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the apron assembly forming a part of the tableof FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing one corner of the apron assembly andthe parts utilized to secure a leg thereto, the parts being viewed fromthe top thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of a corner of thetable of FIG. 2 as seen along the lines 7-7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view with certain portions broken away in verticalsection through the table of FIG. 1 along the line 38 thereof;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged View with certain parts broken away in verticalsection through an edge of the table of FIG. 2 along the line 9-9; and

FIG. 10 is a view in vertical section along the line 10-10 in FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof,there is illustrated a table made in accordance with and embodying theprinciples of the present invention. The table 100 includes a table top101 beneath which is mounted an apron assembly 200 carrying therein adrawer 270 and supported by four legs 300, one of the legs 300 beingdisposed in each of the four corners of the generally rectangular apronassembly 200 and each having a foot 305 at the lower end thereof.Further details of construction of the table top 101 will be describedwith particular reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 of the drawings, wherein itwill be seen that the table top 101 includes a generally flat top plate102, the top plate 102 being generally rectangular in shape and havingthe corners thereof formed square, the periphery of the top plate 102being essentially the same as the periphery of the table top 101.Disposed beneath the top plate 102 and extending around the peripherythereof is an edging 103 also formed of sheet metal, a substantiallyflat piece of sheet metal having been deformed to provide an attachmentflange 104, a side flange 105, a mounting flange 106, an inturned flange107 and trim mounting flanges 108 and 111. More specifically, theattachment flange 104 is disposed against the underside of the top plate102 but is spaced inwardly with respect to the outer edge thereof, theouter edge of the attachment flange 104 carrying thereon the mountingflange 106 which is offset downwardly away from the underside of the topplate 102 and extends outwardly slightly beyond the outer edge thereof.As illustrated, the side flange 105 is integral with the mounting flange106 and depends therefrom and is disposed substantially normal thereto.There is provided on the lower edge of the side flange 105 a lower trimmounting member including the inturned flange 107 carrying on the inneredge thereof a first integral outer trim holding flange 108 and anupwardly directed inner trim holding flange 111. Preferably the edging103 is formed as two pieces and is secured to the top plate by Weldingat the attachment flange 104 and the abutting edges of the edging 103located substantially at the midpoints of the shorter top sides are alsowelded to form seams therebetween.

Also disposed on the underside of the top plate 102 is a reinforcingsheet formed from a substantially flat piece of sheet metal bent toprovide an attachment portion 141, ribs 142 having side walls 143 andconnecting portions 144 at the outer periphery thereof. The attachmentportions 141 are disposed toward the underside of the top plate 102,there being a body of mastic (not shown) applied therebetween throughwhich a weld is made. The side walls 143 extend downwardly from theattachment portions 141 to form the ribs 142 which are spaced from theunderside of the top plate 102. The connecting portions 144 are offsetfrom the underside of the top plate 102 to accommodate therebctweenportions such as the attachment flanges 104 on the edging 103, the threelayers mentioned being connected as by welding.

Also mounted beneath the top 101 are two longitudinally extending andsubstantially parallel and spaced apart mounting channels 120, eachmounting channel 120 including a longitudinally extending main wall 121and a pair of depending side flanges 122 carrying on the lower endsthereof respectively inturned holding flanges 123, all of the otherparts of the table 100 being mounted upon the table top 101 by means ofthe mounting channels 120. Disposed on the upper surface of the topplate 102 is a covering 125, preferably formed of a synthetic organicresin, the preferred materials being those sold under the trademarksTextolite, Micarta and Formica. An adhesive is applied both to the uppersurface of the top plate 102 and to the lower surface of the covering125 to provide a good bond therebetween, the preferred adhesive being asynthetic rubber resin adhesive of the contact type such as that soldunder the trademark D-SOO by Armstrong Cork Company, the two parts beingoven heated to about 200 F. to drive off the volatile ingredients in theadhesive. The outer edges of the covering 125 extend slightly beyond theouter edge of the top plate 102 and the upper outer corner is cut backor beveled as at 126. To complete the table top 101, a lower decorativetrim 115 is provided around the periphery of the lower portion of theedging 103 and an upper decorative trim 130 is provided about the edgeof the top plate 102. Referring first to the lower trim 115, it will beseen that the trim 115 includes a main wall 116 that is disposed belowthe flanges 108 and 111, the main wall 116 having integral therewith anupwardly directed decorative side wall 117 having a generally concavevertical outer surface and carrying on the upper end thereof an integraland inwardly directed mounting flange 118 adapted to engage on the trimholding flange 108. The inner edge of the main wall 116 carries anupstanding integral inner wall 119 having on the upper end thereof anoutwardly directed mounting flange 114 that overlies the upper edge ofthe inner flange 111. The two mounting flanges 114 and 118 cooperate tohold the decorative lower trim 115 upon the trim holding flanges 108 and111 on the lower edge of the edging 103, the trim 115 extendingcompletely around the periphery of the associated table top 101. Thepreferred materials of construction of the trim 115 are syntheticorganic plastic resins, one preferred material being anacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) such as those sold underthe trademarks Abson, Kralastic and Cycolac, and another preferredmaterial being high-impact polystyrene.

The upper trim 130 is preferably formed of sheet metal, the preferredmaterial being stainless steel. A single sheet of metal is bent toprovide an outer wall 131, a top flange 132 and a mounting tongue 135.As illustrated, the outer wall 131 is disposed generally vertically andcarries on the upper edge thereof the top flange 132 that extendsinwardly and slightly upwardly from the outer wall 131 and abuts againstthe edge of the covering 125 at the beveled portion 126 thereof. Thelower edge of the outer wall 131 extends downwardly at least to the topof the edging 103 and carries on the lower end thereof the mountingtongue 135 that is resiliently held between the top plate 102 and themounting flange 106.

Mounted beneath the table top 101 and extending substantially around theentire periphery thereof, but slightly recessed inwardly with respectthereto is the apron assembly 200, certain details of constructionthereof being best illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7 of the drawings. Theapron assembly 200 is made up of a plurality of individual apronssuitably interconnected and including a pair of spaced apart frontaprons 201 each including an outer wall 202 having on the upper andlower edges thereof integral top and bottom walls 203 and 204,respectively, the inner edge of the bottom wall 204- carrying anupstanding reinforcing flange 205 thereon. The outer walls 202 of thefront aprons 201 are disposed in the same vertical plane when in use andhave the adjacent ends thereof spaced apart and the space between thetop and bottom walls 203 and 204 closed thereat by means of end walls206, these end walls 206 receiving the drawer 270 therebetween as willbe described more fully hereinafter.

Disposed at the rear of the apron assembly 200 is a rear apron 210including an outer wall 212 that is disposed substantially parallel tothe outer walls 202 of the front aprons 201, the outer wail 212 carryingon the upper and lower edges thereof a top wall 213 and a bottom wall214, respectively, the inner edge of the bottom wall 214 carrying anupturned reinforcing flange 215 thereon.

Spaced from the outer ends of the front aprons 201 and the adjacent endsof the rear aprons 210 are side aprons 220 identical in construction,whereby like reference numerals have been applied to both throughout thedrawings. Each of the side aprons 220 also includes an outer wall 222that is disposed vertically during the use of the table and lies in aplane that is normal both to the outer walls 202 and the outer wall 212.The upper edge of the outer wall 222 carries an inwardly directed topwall 223.

and the lower edge of the outer wall 222 carries an inwardly directedbottom wall 224, the inner edge of the bottom wall 224 carrying anupwardly directed reinforcing flange 225.

interconnecting the inner ends of the front aprons 201 and intermediateportions of the rear apron 210 are channel shaped drawer supports 230,two of the drawer supports 230 of an identical construction beingprovided whereby like reference numerals have been applied to both inthe several figures of the drawings. Each of the drawer supportsincludes a main wall 232 disposed vertically and essentially normal tothe outer walls 202 and 212 and substantially parallel to the outerwalls 222, the vertical extent of the main wall 232 being such that itcan fit within and between the top wall 203 and the bottom wall 204 ofthe associated front apron 201 and between the top wall 213 and thebottom wall 214 of the rear apron 210. There further are providedrespectively on the upper and lower edges of. the main wall 232laterally and outwardly directed top and bottom flanges 233, the flanges233 all being disposed between the top wall 203 and the bottom wall 204on the associated front apron 201 and between the top wall 213 and thebottom wall 214 on the rear apron 210; further, it is pointed out thatthe main wall 232 has the outer surface thereof disposed against theinner surface of the end wall 206 on the associated front apron 201.Finally, the top wall 203 and the top flange 233 in the overlyingportions thereof are suitably connected as by Welding at 236, the bottomflange 234 and the bottom wall 204 are likewise joined by welding, andthe top flange 203 and the top wall 213 are also joined by welding asare the bottom flange 234 and the bottom flange 214, whereby tointerconnect the front apron 201, the rear apron 210 and the drawersupports 230. In order to provide further reinforcement at the front ofthe apron assembly 200, a cross tie 240 is provided having a bottomflange 241 suitably secured as by welding to the top flanges 233 and anupstanding reinforcing flange 242 on the rear edge thereof.

The side aprons 220 are connected to the adjacent ends of the rear apron210 and the associated front apron 201 by means of attachment brackets250, the details of construction of one of the attachment brackets 250being best illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 9 of the drawings; four ofthe attachment brackets 250 are provided, but since each is formedidentical to the other, only one will be described in detail and likereference numerals applied to like parts throughout the drawings. Theattachment bracket 250 includes a main wall 251 which is generallyrectangular in shape and carries on the outer shorter sides thereofvertically arranged reinforcing flanges 252 disposed at an obtuse angleof approximately 133 with respect to the body 251. There further isprovided an inwardly directed reinforcing rib 253 that is disposedsubstantially midway between the longer sides of the main wall 251 andcontinues outwardly onto the reinforcing flanges 252 to form a verystrong structure. Formed on the upper longer edge of the main wall 251is a top wall 255 which extends therefrom in the same direction as thereinforcing flanges 252 but is disposed substantially normal thereto.Disposed essentially centrally of the top wall 255 is an opening 256about which is an upwardly directed conical flange 257 for receiving aflat head bolt, as will be described more fully hereinafter. The lowerlonger edge of the main wall 251 carries an inwardly directed bottomwall 258 having an opening 259 substantially centrally thereof.

As may be best seen in FIGS. 5 and 9, one of the attachment brackets 250is disposed at the juncture of the ends of the side aprons 220 with theassociated front apron 201 and with the rear apron 210, the top Wall 255and the bottom wall 253 more particularly being disposed between the topand bottom walls of the associated apron and suitably secured thereto asby welding at points 236. The described interconnection completes theapron assembly 200 and provides an extremely rigid construction thereof.As will be best seen in FIG. 5, the adjacent ends of the various apronsare spaced apart at the corners to form essentially square recesseswhich are to receive the adjacent upper end of a leg 300 therein as willbe described more fully hereinafter.

As illustrated, the drawer 270 is mounted within the apron assembly 200and more specifically is mounted upon and between the drawer supports230 thereof. Referring to FIG. 8, it will be seen that the drawer 270 issupported on each side thereof by a pair of glides 271 mounted upon theassociated drawer supports 230, the glides 271 preferably being formedof a lubric material. The drawer 270 more particularly includes a bottomwall 272 having a pair of upstanding side walls 273 carrying on theouter sides thereof lower drawer support rails 274 and upper drawersupport rails 275. The forward end of the drawer 270 is closed by adrawer head 276 and the rear end is closed by a rear wall 277. Furtherdetails of the glides 271 and of the drawer suspension system are setforth in the copending application of Kenneth D. Schreyer, Ser. No.503,157, filed Oct. 23, 1965.

Another important function of the attachment bracket 250 is to provide afirst structure for mounting the apron assembly 200 upon the undersizeof the table top 101, and particularly on the mounting channels 120thereof. Referring specifically to FIG. 9, it will be seen that the topopening 256 in the top wall 255 receives therethrough a flat head bolt280 including a head 281 disposed below the conical flange 257 and ashank 282 extending upwardly through the opening 256 therein andengaging a nut 285 disposed in the associated mounting channel 120, thecostruction and operation of the nut 285 being set forth in greaterdetail in the abovementioned application Ser. No. 503,157. It will beunderstood that each of the attachment brackets 250 is provided with abolt 280 engaging an associated nut 285, whereby the top walls 203 onthe front aprons 201, the top wall 213 on the rear apron 210 and the topwalls 223 on the side aprons 220 are urged firmly against the main wall116 of the lower trim 115, thereby to make a firm connectiontherebetween. In this manner the apron assembly 200 is firmly mountedupon the table top 101 by attachment to the mounting channels 120thereof and is held firmly thereagainst and the joint therebetweensealed by virtue of the presence of the trim 115, the trim 115 alsosubstantially preventing transmission of sound between the table top 101and the apron assembly 200 and associated parts whereby to provide atable having good sound deadening properties.

Another important function of the attachment brackets 250 is to mountthe legs 300 on the table 100. Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 6 and7 of the drawings, it will be seen that each of the legs 300 isessentially square in cross section and includes four identical sidewalls 301 joined to form a hollow tubular leg 300 of essentially squarecross section. Aflixed to each of the legs 300 adjacent to the upper endthereof is a pair of mounting studs 302 that extend outwardly at acorner thereof, the axis of each of the studs 302 being disposed at anangle of 135 with respect to the adjacent side wall 301. The studs 302are spaced apart vertically a distance equal to the vertical spacing ofthe openings 261 in the attachment brackets 250, whereby the studs 302are readily inserted therethrough, and the outer surfaces of the studs302 further are threaded for reception of an internally threaded nut 303and an associated lock washer 304 used in mounting the leg 300 on theassociated attachment bracket 250. There further is disposed betweeneach of the legs 300 and the associated attachment bracket 250 a cornerspacer 310 formed of sheet metal and shaped to provide a pair of rightangularly disposed main walls 311 and a pair of vertically extendingside flanges 312, the juncture main walls 311 having a pair of openings313 thereat to receive therethrough the studs 302 on the associated leg300. Referring particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, it will beseen that the leg 300 fits within the essentially square opening formedby spacing apart the adjacent ends of the front apron 201 and the sideapron 220, for example, the corner spacer 310 being disposed between theadjacent side walls 301 of the leg 300 and the adjacent ends of thefront apron 201 and the side apron 220, respectively, the side flanges312 of the conrer spacer 310 overlying the adjacent edges of the apronmain walls 202 and 222, respectively. The mounting studs 302 extendthrough the aligned openings in the corner spacer 310, and theattachment bracket 250 and receive on the outer ends thereof theassociated lock washer 304 the associated nut 303, thereby firmly tomount the associated leg 300 upon the associated attachment bracket 250.It will be seen that the outer surfaces of the leg 300 are disposedsubstantially in the same plane as the outer surfaces of the associatedapron outer wall 202 and 222, as the case may be.

In order further to interconnect the apron assembly 200 to the undersideof the table top 101, and particularly to interconnect the table top 101to the apron assembly 200 at points spaced from the corners thereof,there has been provided a plurality of panel brackets 320, the detailsof construction of which are best seen in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 of thedrawings. As illustrated, each of the panel brackets 320 includes a body321 generally rectanuglar in shape and having on opposed sides thereofupstanding flanges 322 adapted to receive therebetween an associatedmounting channel 120. There is provided on the inner edge of the body320 an abutment surface 323 that is disposed upwardly and abuts againstthe underside of the associated mounting flange 123, and there isproivded on the outer edge of the body 321 an integral depending leg 324carrying on the lower end an outwardly extending arm 325. From thedrawings it will be seen that the arm 325 extends outwardly to engagebeneath the associated top wall 203, 213 or 223, as the case may be. Thebody 321 further has an opening 326 therein which receives therethrougha bolt 330, and specifically the threaded shank 332 thereof, the bolt330 also having a head 331 engaging the underside of the bracket body321. The shank 332 of the bolt 330 extends upwardly into the associatedmounting channel and there engages one of the special nuts 285 describedhereinabove, thereby firmly to mount the panel bracket 320 upon themounting channel 120. In mounting the panel bracket 320 in the operativeposition, it will be seen that as the bolt 330 is tightenened, theentire bracket 320 will tend to pivot about the abutment surface 323 ina clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 10, whereby to urge the outerend of the arm 325 upwardly, thereby to urge the associated top wall 223of the side apron 220 against the resilient trim 115, thereby firmly topress the adjacent apron against the trim 115 on the underside of thetable top 101 at the point of contact with the panel bracket 320.

One of the important features of the present invention resides in thefact that the various parts mounted on the underside of the table top101 are urged upwardly to engage and to abut against the underside ofthe lower trim 115. More specifically, the various top walls 203, 213and 223 are all urged upwardly against the trim 115 both by thecooperation of the attachment brackets 250 and the associated bolts 280engaging the nuts 285 in the mounting channels 120, and also by means ofthe panel brackets 320 being urged upwardly by means of the bolts 330engaging the nuts 285 in the associated mounting channels 120. Likewise,the upper ends of the legs 300 will be urged against the trim 115 due tothe attachment thereof to the attachment brackets 250. The interpositionof the trim 115 between the lower edge of the table top 101 and theupper edges of the apron assembly 200 and the legs 300 serves to deadensound transmission between the various parts as well as to form a neatand attractive appearance at the joints therebetween. It has alreadybeen pointed out above that the table top 101 is so constructed in theinterconnection of the reinforcing sheet 1410 to the top plate 102 as toprovide good sound deadening qualities therein.

Fundamentally, the table 100 is formed of sheet metal with the exceptionof the several parts mentioned in the course of the above description.Furthermore, the sheet metal forming the various parts is of relativelylight gauge, as will be appreciated from the following examples of thegauge of the sheet metal utilized to form various parts of the table 1%.For example, in a typical illustrative embodiment of the table top 101,the top plate 102 is formed of 20 gauge steel, the edging 103 is formedof 18 gauge steel, the reinforcing sheet 140 is formed of 24 gauge steeland the mounting channels 120 is formed of 18 gauge steel. In anillustrative example of the apron assembly 200, the front aprons 201 areformed of 18 gauge steel, the rear apron 210 is formed of 18 gaugesteel, the side aprons 229 are formed of 18 gauge steel, the drawersupports 230 are formed of 20 gauge steel, the cross tie 240 is formedof 16 gauge steel, and the attachment brackets 250 are formed of 14gauge steel. With respect to the legs 301) and the mounting thereof,each leg is formed by bending 16 gauge sheet steel to the shapeillustrated and chromium plating the exterior thereof to improve theappearance; the corner spacer 310 is formed of 22 gauge steel.

From the above description it will be seen that there has been providedan improved table which fulfills all of the objects and advantages setforth above. More specifically, there has been provided an improvedtable formed essentially of sheet metal that is simple in constructionand economical in manufacture. The improved table 100 includes animproved table top 101 having a pair of spaced apart mounting channels120 on the underside thereof and an apron assembly 200 arrangedtherebeneath and disposed within the periphery thereof, a plurality ofattachment brackets 250 secured within the apron assembly 200 andprovided with fasteners 281 and 285 attaching the brackets 250 to themounting channels 120, thereby to connect the apron assembly 200 to thetable top 101, and a plurality of legs 300 detachably secured to theattachment brackets 250 for supporting the table 100 upon an underlyingsupport surface. There further is provided between the lower edge of thetable top 101 and the upper edge of the apron assembly 200 a decorativetrim preferably formed of synthetic organic plastic resin and serving tofill the void between the parts and to deaden sound transmissiontherebetween.

In the improved table 100, an improved structure for the mounting of thelegs 300 on the apron assembly 200 has been provided, the legs beingmounted directly upon the attachment brackets 259 carried by the apronassembly 200 and secured thereto by studs integral with the legs andextending through openings in the associated attachment bracket 250, thenuts 303 engaging the studs to secure the legs 300 in the operativeposition.

Finally, an improved structure in the form of the panel brackets 32% hasbeen provided to connect the apron assembly 201 to the table top 101 bymeans of the mounting channels 126 at points spaced from the corners atwhich the attachment brackets 250 are provided.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatvarious modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such modificatons as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A table comprising a top including a substantially fiat top plate, apair of spaced apart mounting channels disposed adjacent to theunderside of said top plate and secured thereto, an edging extendingaround the periphery of said top plate and including a dependent sideflange that extends downwardly well below said mounting channels; anapron assembly arranged adjacent to the underside of said top andextending around the periphery thereof and disposed Within the outerperiphery of said dependent side flange, a plurality of attachmentbrackets disposed about said apron assembly within the periphery thereofand secured thereto, a corresponding plurality of fasteners engagingsaid attachment brackets and detachably securing said apron assembly tothe adjacent mounting channels, thereby detachably to connect said apronassembly to said top; and a corre sponding plurality of legs detachablysecured to said attachment brackets to support said table upon anunderlying support surface.

2. The table set forth in claim 1, wherein said top and said apronassembly are essentially rectangular in shape, and said attachmentbrackets and said legs are disposed in the corners of said apronassembly.

3. The table set forth in claim 1, wherein said apron assembly hasrecesses in the periphery thereof adjacent to said attachment bracketsand shaped complementary to said legs for receiving said legs therein.

4. The table set forth in claim 1, wherein the structure for securingsaid legs to said attachment brackets each comprises a stud secured toeach leg adjacent to the upper end thereof and extending through anopening in the associated attachment bracket and a fastener engaging thestud to secure the same to the attachment bracket.

5. A table comprising a top including a substantially rectangular fiattop plate, a pair of spaced apart mounting channels disposed adjacent tothe underside of said top plate and secured thereto, an edging extendingaround the periphery of said top plate and including a dependent sideflange that extends downwardly well below said mounting channels; anapron assembly arranged adjacent to the underside of said top andincluding a front apron and a rear apron and a pair of side aprons alldisposed within the outer periphery of said depending side flange aplurality of attachment brackets disposed between the adjacent ends ofsaid aprons within the periphery thereof and secured thereto andsecuring said aprons one to the other, a corresponding plurality offasteners respectively engaging said attachment brackets and securingsaid apron assembly to the adjacent mounting channels, thereby toconnect said apron assembly to said top, each of said attachmentbrackets having a pair of openings therein; and a correspondingplurality of legs and each including a pair of longitudinally spacedapart studs secured thereto and extending outward-1y therefrom into anadjacent pair of stud openings, and fasteners engaging said studs fordetachably securing said legs to said attachment brackets to supportsaid table upon an underlying support surface.

6. The table set forth in claim 5, wherein said legs are substantiallysquare in cross section and the corners of said apron assembly havecomplementarily shaped recesses disposed therein for receiving saidlegs, whereby the outer surfaces of said legs are substantially flushwith the outer surfaces with the adjacent ones of said aprons.

7. The table set forth in claim 5, and further comprising a plurality ofspacers respectively disposed between said legs and said apron assemblyand including side flanges overlying the adjacent edges of said aprons.

8. A table comprising a top including a substantially flat top plate, apair of spaced apart mounting channels disposed adjacent to theunderside of said top plate and secured thereto, an edging extendingaround the periphery of said top plate and including a dependent sideflange that extends downwardly well below said mounting channels, a trimdisposed on the lower edge of said side flange and extending around theperiphery of said top; an apron assembly arranged against the undersideof said trim and extending around the periphery of said top and dis osedwithin the outer periphery of said trim, a plurality of attachmentbrackets disposed about said apron assembly within the periphery thereofand secured thereto, a corresponding plurality of fasteners detachablyengaging said attachment brackets and securing said apron assembly tothe adjacent mounting channels, thereby detachably to connect said apronassembly to said top; and a corresponding plurality of legs detachablysecured to said attachment brackets to support said table upon anunderlying support surface.

9. The table set forth in claim 8, wherein said trim is formed of asynthetic organic plastic resin.

10. The table set forth in claim 8, wherein said trim is formed of anaorylonitrile-b utadiene-styrene copolymer.

11. A table comprising a top including a substantially flat top plate, apair of spaced apart mounting channels disposed adjacent to theunderside of said top plate and spaced inwardly from the adjacent edgesthereof and secured thereto, each of said mounting channels including apair of downwardly extending side walls and a pair of inwardly directedretaining flanges on the lower edges thereof and having the inner edgesspaced apart, an edging extending along the rear edgeof said top plateand including a depending side flange that extends downwardly well belowsaid mounting channel; an apron assembly arranged against the undersideof said side flange and extending around the periphery of said top anddisposed within the outer periphery of said side flange, a plurality ofattachment brackets disposed about said apron assembly within theperiphery thereof and secured thereto, a corresponding plurality offasteners detachably interconnecting said attachment brackets and saidretaining flanges for securing said apron assembly to the adjacentmounting channels, thereby detachably to connect said apron assembly tosaid top; a plurality of panel brackets detacha'bly secured to theretaining flanges on said mounting channel and having a depending legthereon extending downwardly along one side wall carrying on the lowerend thereof an arm extending into and detachably engaging said apronassembly detachably to support said apron assembly on said top at pohitsspaced from said attachment brackets; and a plurality of legs detachablysecured to said attachment brackets to support said table upon anunderlying support surface.

12. The table set forth in claim 11, wherein said apron assembly has agenerally horizontally and inwardly directed flange at the upper edgethereof, and each of said arms extends outwardly from the associated legand with respect to the associated mounting channel to engage beneathsaid apron flange to hold said apron assembly in the mounted positionthereof.

13. The table set forth in claim 11, wherein each of said panel bracketsincludes a body disposed against the underside of the associatedmounting channel and a pair of upstanding retaining flanges on the edgesof said body for engaging the outer surface of the associated mountingchannel to limit movement therebetween, and a nut disposed in saidmounting channel and a bolt passes through said body and engages saidnut securely to mount the associated panel bracket upon the associatedmounting channel.

14. The table set forth in claim 11, and further comprising a trimdisposed between the lower edge of said depending side flange and theupper surface of said apron assembly to fill the space therebetween.

15. The table set forth in claim 1, wherein said apron assembly includesa front apron and a rear apron and a pair of side aprons all disposedWithin the outer periphery of said dependent side flange, and saidplurality of attachment brackets secure said aprons one to another.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,153,946 9/1915 Ohstrand 108156X 2,166,195 7/1939 Rosenberg et a1. 108155 2,228,504 1/1941 Braun 526242,260,934 10/ 1941 Corduan et a1 52624 2,369,140 2/1945 Dewey 1081562,846,283 8/1958 Pasewalk 52623 3,065,860 11/1962 Swanson 211-1533,102,616 9/1963 Simkins 248188 X 3,173,385 3/1965 Tucker 108158 C3,187,693 6/1965 Hamilton et a1. 108156 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,075,50712/1958 France.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. JAMES T. McCALL, Examiner,

1. A TABLE COMPRISING A TOP INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT TOP PLATE, APAIR OF SPACED APART MOUNTING CHANNELS DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THEUNDERSIDE OF SAID TOP PLATE AND SECURED THERETO, AN EDGING EXTENDINGAROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TOP PLATE AND INCLUDING A DEPENDENT SIDEFLANGE THAT EXTENDS DOWNWARDLY WELL BELOW SAID MOUNTING CHANNELS; ANAPRON ASSEMBLY ARRANGED ADJACENT TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TOP ANDEXTENDING AROUND THE PERIPHERY THEREOF AND DISPOSED WITHIN THE OUTERPERIPHERY OF SAID DEPENDENT SIDE FLANGE, A PLURALITY OF ATTACHMENTBRACKETS DISPOSED ABOUT SAID APRON ASSEMBLY WITHIN THE PERIPHERY THEREOFAND SECURED THERETO, A CORRESPONDING PLURALITY OF FASTENERS ENGAGINGSAID ATTACHMENT BRACKETS AND DETACHABLY SECURING SAID APRON ASSEMBLY TOTHE ADJACENT MOUNTING CHANNELS, THEREBY DETACHABLY TO CONNECT SAID APRONASSEMBLY TO SAID TOP; AND A CORRESPONDING PLURALITY OF LEGS DETACHABLYSECURED TO SAID ATTACHMENT BRACKETS TO SUPPORT SAID TABLE UPON ANUNDERLYING SUPPORT SURFACE.